What a Ride! Can We Go Again?

by Anne

Ok, that game was draining. I'm exhausted, I don't know how the Sabres feel, but I'm ready for bed.

I was pretty disgusted until the third when the following happened:

Me[to the Sabres]: Oh, fuck it, just GIVE UP!
Rick: GAUSTAD SCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORES!

The timing could not have been more perfect.

Then I was back on the couch and MacArthur scored and I got so carried away I threw a cookie out of my hand and down the hallway.

After the first, the game was definitely all Sabres, and they climbed back from a 3-0 deficit. My sister and I are probably the most ridiculous people to watch a hockey a game with. We basically yell about everything and varying volumes and with varying inflections but we always celebrate and lament goals scored the same way and we always bury our faces in pillows during shoot outs.

That game was really fun. Thank goodness we won. It's nice to create some space in the standings by winning, not just because other teams are losing.

I loved Royzie's little kick on his shootout goal. He's gotten back to feisty Royzie after his usual slow start to the season. Yoyo once again scored one of those "If I can't score on a wide open net, I'm quitting the game." goals after several failed open net attempts by his teammates. GOOOOOSE with another 2 goal game and another excellent effort that we've come to expect from him lately. Then we were treated to a lovely post game interview. Lindy was uncharacteristically smiley during his interview. Hooray!

Miller was freakin'sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet in the shootout as usual. Its really nice to see the old shootout Miller back in net. He wasn't sweeeeeeeeet in regulation but he hung on and kept us in there in OT. Dallas didn't offer much in the way of pressure during OT but Miller kept us in it anyway. Marty Turco played an excellent game and really stole that point for Dallas in OT. He was great in the shootout, denying the Sabres top shooters, but might not have been as prepared for Royzie and Pommer who don't shoot very often, especially Pommer. Kotalik used the move that won it for him the last time, but Turco was prepared for it. Maybe next time he'll go back to the backhand.

Happy 3000th Regular Season Game, Rip!

Just when I'm ready to give up on them they go and friggin' win. Saturday is a game against a team that's close behind us in the standings, therefore, we will almost certainly lose. Oh well, I will enjoy this happy feeling while it lasts. I'm still exhausted.

Oh yeah, and today my Dad called Lindy "Lindsay". Hahahahahah, Dad. Hurricanes at home on Saturday. Woooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!

Don't forget to vote! Time's almost up!!!

The Rest of the Pack

by Anne

I need to pick a Dallas Stars WCB because they clearly need my support.

No player needs my love more than one Mr. Marty Turco.

Poor, dear, sweet Marty is not doing well these days. His GAA is a TERRIFYING 4.20 and his SV% is a backup backup poor .841%. Ehhhhhhhh. Maybe the stress of baby #3 is getting to him?????

Regardless, Marty needs love, and I'm here to provide some.... from about 1300 miles away.

Marty! It's easier if you wear the pads!!
And stand in front of the net!
Try it out! That might help!!

Nashville:

I wanted to avoid the easy route of loving JP Dumont, but why fight my first French Canadian love?

JP, I'm an AWFUL skater,
can you help me??

And he has adorable little French Canadian daughters.

SABRES @ WILD TONIGHT!!!
Without Rivet
and Goose
and Hecht
and Timmy
COME ON PATCHES, YOU CAN DO IT!!!

I Should Start LiveBlogging My Class -and- the Dallas Stars

by Anne

If you read this blog on Tuesday and Thursday, chances are good at least some of that post was written during my 8am class. I'm basically the poster child for academic integrity and attentive note-taking. I'm looking around the room and of the 400 or so people that are supposed to be here right now, there are probably 250 and about 50 of them are asleep.

I was perusing the Dallas Stars website this morning. Why, you ask? I dunno, just cuz, why not? Right?!

Anyway, APPARENTLY UNBEKNOWNST TO ME THE STARS HAVE BEEN BLOGGING!!!!!

I LOVE WHEN HOCKEY PLAYERS BLOG!!!

Ahem, the latest entry was done by defenseman Matt Niskanen. Thank the LORD his topic was "team building". Who doesn't love wacky stories about the boys participating in hours long workshops in self-esteem building where each player sits in the middle of a circle and his teammates sitting around him listing all the things they like about him. Then there are trust falls and light refreshments.

ANYWAY, here's the Dallas' Stars version of team building:

This trip out to Colorado is kind of our first real road trip. It’s a chance to do some different team bonding, stuff like the fishing and the golfing, to get guys together off the ice. We’re going to a ranch up in the mountains tonight, which should be fun. We’re going to shoot some old Western guns, do a little bit of horseback riding, stuff like that. We did this same thing last year, and it was a blast. Hopefully none of the new guys are nervous about getting on a horse! The weather’s awesome here – a little cooler at night, perfect weather for stuff like this. Last year we had a fire and a barbecue afterward, and it was a great way to spend the evening as a team.

WHHHHHHAAAAATTTTT??? A dude ranch, shooting guns, horseback riding? They've done this BEFORE? These are HOCKEY players, not FOOTBALL players. They're used to being inside where its COLD.

Hahahahahahahahaha. DO THEY ALL WEAR CHAPS AND SPURS?!?! I want y'all to just take a moment and envision Sean "I'm boning the former Mrs. Calvin Klein" Avery roughing it out on the range with the cattle, tendin' to the steaks on the grill and ropin' some steers. WHAT A GREAT SCENE IN THAT MOVIE ABOUT HIS LIFE THIS WILL BE.

There are a few choice moments from the other blogs, but as this is not a Dallas Stars blog, I'll just link ya to 'em. Loui Ericksson signing off his blog entry (Day 3) because Joel Lundqvist and he had to go play some table tennis, did make me chuckle. Nicklas Grossman (Day 4) made a steak and potatoes dinner for all the Swedes he could find in the greater Dallas area. AND NICKLAS GROSSMAN REVEALS THAT PRATTERS HAS BEEN RELOCATED TO DALLAS!!! Awwwww, I love Pratters!!!!!! Brad Richards (Day 9) is apparently on the verge of becoming BFFs with Sean Avery. Uhhhhh. STOP!! DALLAS FANS, DOOOOOOO SOMETHING!!! help them adjust to Dallas APART. If Brad Richards starts working at Cosmo and wearing jaunty little Ralph Lauren peacoats and having NHL rules modified because of his shenanigans, don't say I didn't warn you!!

So on the Nate Gerbe front. It was frankly waaaayyyyyy more entertaining when he refused to be my Facebook friend and I dedicated a great deal of energy attempting to remedy that situation. We're lifelong Facebook BFFs but only on PAPER. I can't see like anything on his profile. I'm considering ending our online fake/not real because he wouldn't know me if he fell over me relationship... is that rash? The persuit was really the fun part, now that its over, I feel kind of shortchanged, hahahaha.

We're watching a video in class and a girl straight up got a PONY for her 10th birthday. Anne= JEALOUS.

Well class is over, check ya laterrrrrrrrr

ETA: This was the first entry ever tagged "Nolan Pratt" weird.

Nathan Gerbe and I are now Frenemies

by Anne

Dear Dallas:

NOT. COOL.

Love,
Anne

---

Private to Brenden Morrow:

You basically had a natural hat trick last night. Unfortunately, only 1 of them counted. Please review how to cleanly and legally put the puck in the net.

Love,
Anne

---

Private to Nate Gerbe:

Thanks for rejecting my Facebook friend request. There's no way you could even know about this psychotic blog, so its either that you think I'm just a rabid Sabres fan OR you have this bizarre practice of not friending people you don't actually know. Whatev. You're dead to me. STAY IN BC FOR ALL I CARE!

No! Gerb-man, I don't really mean it, please come to Buffalo ASAP but don't reject my love when I stalk you downtown. Thanks.

Love,
Anne

---

Private to Pat Kane:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Love,
Anne

---

Dear Team USA Powerplay:


WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!

Love,
Anne

---

Dear Team USA Even Strength:

Yyyyyyeah, uhhhhh could you try that again? I mean excellent work on getting the powerplays, but even strength goals are just as sexy, if not sexier.

Love,
Anne

---

Private to Tim Tom:

I'm glad you're as focused on your age and deep forehead lines as I am.

Love,
Anne

Hockey is Complicated

by Anne


What an evening of hockey THAT was.


WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! The only down side was that Versus and HNiC were broadcasting the Pens game, and neither of them broadcasting the Stars/Sharks game. I had to watch on Yahoo.com.


I really bring the Pens good luck, lol. The last game I started watching 1/2 way through it was 3-0 and they came back and won. Tonight I went out to dinner and came back 1/2 way through just to see the Rangers tie it at 3. Then they won this one. If only I had the same effect on my boys in blue and gold. Ahhhhhh. The Penguins are my regular season "other woman". It's nice to show my love for my hockey mistress this time of year, but we all know where my heart belongs.


And:


WOOOOOOOO!! Go Stars! YO, SHARKS! Do NOT mess up StUUUUUuuuuuUUUUU BARNES. Norstrom will eff you up by scoring a goal, which he's never done in the playoffs before this series. HA! He's got Nabby's number.


I haven't missed a Pens game thus far and they've won them all. The Stars have won every game that I've watched at least part of...iiiiiiinteresting.


Montreal has let down Sabres fans across the board. Most Sabres fans have been pulling for Montreal, which makes sense to me (they don't constantly wipe the floor with us, they for the most part aren't dirty players, etc.) and if the Pens weren't in this, I'd probably be pulling for them too. Yo, Montreal, what is the DEAL? You were so scary and good in the last part of the season and now you're falling apart....wait, are you secretly San Jose?


Oh yeah, the Avs lost to the Red Wings. I'm only disappointed because I thought the Avs might do it, based on how much Detroit struggled in the first round.....apparently not.


It was like I forgot Peter Forsberg played for the Avalanche. He was out for the first 2 games and I couldn't remember why I disliked the Avs so much. Then they showed him on the bench last night and I shuddered. I definitely should've picked the Red Wings. If for no other reason than I might get to hear more interviews with Zetterberg.


Thank goodness Ryan Miller was named to the NHLPA Goalie Equipment Working Group so I have something mildly Sabres related and relevant to discuss. I'm enjoying reading about Team USA, but mostly I'm grasping at straws over here.

On a related note: Here's a nice article about Kaner over in Camp USA. My favorite quote:

“Growing up my favorite player was Joe Sakic, and the game I scored my first goal, I was named first star and he was named second star,” Kane said. “Things like that hit you, and after that you’re like, ‘Wow, is this happening?’ ”

Yes Kaner, it is.

Anyhoot, does the name of this committee Millsey's on sound like a category in some sort of bizarre ice hockey themed dog show to anyone else?


Basically its 3 goaltenders (Brodeur, Pretty Ricky and Millsey) and 2 forwards (Heatley and Cammalleri) plus 3 people who aren't players including Brett Hull (ugh). They'll yammer on about the size of goaltender equipment being scaled back or being made out of tashcan lids or whatevs. They really should have J.S. Giguere on this committee. It looks like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is in net for the Mightily Mighty Ducks that are Mightily of Anaheim.


See?:

I am proud to announce that Iggy was nominated for the Hart Trophy.

This is his 3rd nomination. He came in 2nd in his previous at bats. There ain't no way Iggy's gonna win. Naming a 3rd nominee was almost a formality it seems. Most commentators have basically gift-wrapped the Hart and handed it to Ovie already, with a couple tossing it Malkin's way. It's ok, they had excellent seasons, but then again, Iggy did too, just not in the same explosive way. 50 goals ain't nothin' to sneeze at. It's ok, Iggy, you'll win my Heart! (Ha, see what I did there?)


If Bruce Boudreau isn't nominated for the Jack Adams Award, I will be irate.

Do I need to elaborate all the statbit-istical reasons he needs to be nominated? Look at his little face! He's so cute! He is without a doubt the most adorable coach in the NHL. Er, um, no offense Lindy.

: None taken, I know you think I'm tops.

: It's true, Lind-o, I do. You're still my main man.

: Thanks...is that you as a South Park character?

: Why yes, yes it is. Thank you for noticing.

: Any time. What are you holding?

: It's a Sabre....duh.

: Wow.

Game(s) 1 Day 2 or WOOOOOOOOO!!!

by Anne

When the Pens were down by three I contemplated changing the channel and playing Monopoly Jr. with the kids I was babysitting. My innermonologue in the 2nd period went something like this:

"Yo, screw THIS. CHRIS DRURY TIPPING IN A STAAL BULLET FROM THE POINT? I don't need this crud. I would only sit through this crap for Jason Pominville, and even this I don't know. How much more of this can I- Wooo! Ok, that's one, one isn't gonna do WOOOO! Ok...only down by one, maybe I'll stick around"

The third period went something like this:

"WOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOO - oops it's tied....WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! BLARG! 15 SECONDS LEFT AND THEY TIED IT AGAI- off the goalpost? WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"

Geno and Sykora have been taking swing dancing lessons.

Here, they try to show their skills.

Their instructor, Ry-ry, comes over to lend a helping hand.

Things are a little off kilter in my HockeyWorld. Not only did I cheer the Stars goals, I found myself wanting them to win more and more with each passing shot on goal. I'm still motivated 90% by my desire to see the Sharks lose, rather than a desire to see the Stars win. It's a change of pace from my totally pro-Flames attitude of Round 1. The other 10% is pro-StuuuuuuuuuuuuuUUUUUUUUU BARNES!

Regardless, Go Stars! Of the 3 games I've watched, none of them have disappointed. So far I'm 3 for 4 on winning teams. Wooo! Come on Avs! Pick it up! I want to win my meaningless Round 2 pool!

Obligatory Sabres mention:

I love Ryan Miller because (i) he held an entire pizza during the anthems at the Wings/Avs game last night (ii) he probably ate that entire pizza (thank goodness) (iii) he makes no bones about the fact that he likes JM Liles more than he likes Brian Campbell, for those who think he's cheering for San Jose (iv) I couldn't pick JM Liles out of a line-up if my life depended on it, but I like him better than Brian Campbell.

Oh, and on the IIHF front: Ovie's playing for Russia! Wooooo!

Maybe the Russian Men's National team will do better than the Under 18s did. They lost to Canada 8-0 in the Gold Medal game. Whoops.

Day 4 -or- How much longer does this go on?

by Anne

After last night:

MTL wins 3-2, leads series 2-0
DAL wins 5-2, leads series 2-0
DET wins 4-2, leads series 2-0

Yesterday was Daddy Maloy's birthday so my hockey viewing was intermittent. I watched some of the later games, and I was getting my hair cut during the Nashville/Detroit game.

Soooooo.... my thoughts about the games will be mere observations.

Anaheim/Dallas - apparently losing my love to the Calgary Flames and my WC official boyfriend being J-Rome instead of Getzy is detrimental to the Ducks. They actually scored their first 2 goals in the playoffs....in the 2nd game. Ouchies. Most people in Buffalo are over the 1999 Finals. We all still hate Brett Hull, though.

Detriot/Nashville - If Nashville didn't have a totally smokin' captain and J.P. Dumont, I wouldn't care about them at all.

Montreal / Boston- The NE Division match-up. I feel embarrassed for those who thought Boston would win any games. If Montreal doesn't sweep, I'll be SHOCKED. It's possible Boston could squeeze out a win at home, but highly unlikely. I keep saying "Just think! It could've been the Sabres!" but we definitely would've won and least 1 or 2 games, considering we actually beat Montreal at least two or three times this season. The same cannot be said for the B's.

I'll probably watch the Flyers @ Caps game this afternoon, but I won't really care that much. I don't want the Caps to win so much as I want the Flyers to lose. I'm sure Ovie and the Caps will get their run at the cup next season or the season after, they don't deserve it this season, but in coming seasons, I'm sure they'll be a better team. They did greatly improve with Bruce (Um, Jack Adams Award?) and Huet, but they're still not up there yet. Bruce had BETTER win the Jack Adams.

I'll probably watch one or both of the later games. I'll be more likely to watch Montreal @ Boston because the team I want to win is leading the series. New Jersey @ New York I probably won't because the team I want to win is losing the series. Side note, Sean Avery was on the TMZ "Star Catcher" celebrating his birthday. Wow. I guess the rest of New York's sports aren't doing much right now, so let's talk to the goon on the hooker's client list as he leaves a restaurant.

Day 5 starts at 2:00 Cookie Monster @ AO's House.

2 down...lots more to go

by Anne

I stay up waaaaaayyyy too late watching hockey and eating buffalo wing pretzels.

Day 2 of the 2008 NHL playoffs has come and gone and here's how it shook down last night:

BOS v. MTL (MTL wins 4-1, leads series 1-0)
NSH v. DET (DET wins 4-1, leads series 1-0)
CGY v. SJS (SJS wins 2-0, series tied 1-1)
DAL v. ANA (DAL wins 4-0, leads series 1-0)

I watched most of the Habs v. Bruins, I didn't care too much. I "Woo!"ed after a Montreal goal, but my heart wasn't really in it.

I watched most of Calgary @ San Jose. That sucked. J-Rome wasn't even TRYING to maintain hold of my vulnerable post-season heart. On a related note, I think the boys at HNIC get a looney everytime they say Brian Campbell's name.

I'm more than a little mad at the Flames for taking like 6 penalties in a row, even though some of them were totally bogus. Fortunately, they killed all but the last 9 seconds and Kipprusoff played out of his mind. HINC also enjoyed cutting in and out on me last night, mostly during commercials. Thanks for that, CBC.

I loved the moment yesterday when I realized that I do, in fact, get CBC.

I'd write about how I enjoyed the Habs win... but did anyone expect for a second that they wouldn't win on home ice? Habs fans is CRAZY. They were Ole-ing in the first 5 minutes. The team did go up 2-0 in about 2 minutes though. Watching their pre-game intro made me sad because it reminded me a lot of the Sabres pre-playoff game intro because Sabres fans is crazy too. We're just 38 seasons of crazy, they're like 70 years of crazy, haha.

Anaheim, my former favorite Western Conference team lost BIG TIME to the Stars. I did NOT realize that the Lundqvist on the Stars was the twin brother of Henrik Lundqvist. Seeing him on the bench totally blew my mind.

Much like Crunchy and BabyCrunchy, the skater brother is much heftier than the goal tender brother. The Lundqvist twins' hair is also completely different, making their identical-ness less obvious. If I didn't hate his team so much, I'd love to watch Henrik defend the net against his brother.

There weren't any good pictures from last night, just the standard players in awkward almost sexual positions, someone getting squished by Chara, a few "the puck is behind the net, let's watch players look at it" goal cam shots, players about to fall over, and the usual "Wooo! We scored a goal!!" Nothing remotely swoon worthy or chuckle inducing. There was one photo of a Wings' zamboni driver swinging around a gross Octopus, but that was just weird. Can anyone explain this phenomenon to me?

The highlight of my night was actually the crazy grocery shopping extravanganza Moms and I went on. She prefers Tops, while I've seen the light and know that Wegman's is vastly superior. Tops has self-scanners which are great if you bought like 1 thing but are TERRIBLE for a larger order. We had a larger order and I was ready to explode it was so annoying, and I was tired. A lethal combination. Then we went to Wegmans where they had TOP SHELF SUNDAE but no Breakaway Berrier. That 1/2 gallon was like a slap in the face. For those that don't know, Top Shelf Sundae is an ice cream flavor made last season to celebrate how awesome the Sabres were are were, and I was grossed out, lol. I quickly got over it after pledging a sit-in until I was personally brought a 1/2 gallon of Breakaway Berrier by Ryan Miller himself. I'll wait, I don't care if he's in Michigan or Nova Scotia or Anaheim or Beirut, I'll wait. I'll be in the frozen section of the Wegmans on Amherst St. I'll live-blog about the crazies that walk by.